ALL JUST COINCIDENCE — OR SOMETHING ELSE?
Something about the massive Poplar Way Bridge project in Lynnwood deserves a closer look.
Taxpayers are watching a roughly $58–60 million project transform the area around 196th Street SW, Poplar Way and Alderwood Mall Parkway. The project is supposed to create a new six-lane bridge over I-5 and modify the surrounding intersections and roadways. (kba-inc)
And yes—there is a legitimate engineering reason for some of the road reconstruction. The project documents specifically call for modifying intersections, widening and restriping roadways, drainage work, paving and other improvements. (WSDOT)
But here’s where taxpayers should start asking questions.
KBA, Inc. is the City’s construction-management and inspection firm for the project.
KBA identifies the City of Lynnwood as its client and says it is providing construction management and inspection services for the approximately $50 million bridge project. (kba-inc)
Then there’s the prime contractor:
Max J. Kuney Company.
The Lynnwood City Council rejected the apparent low bid from OMA Construction and awarded the contract to Max J. Kuney for approximately $44.5 million, with roughly $4.5 million in contingency. (CloudFront)
That’s a LOT of taxpayer money.
And KBA isn’t some company with one isolated relationship with Lynnwood. KBA has other work for the City, including wastewater-related consulting/owner-advisor services.
Meanwhile, public records show that people and companies connected to these firms have participated in Washington political fundraising.
KBA has made political contributions.
KBA executives have made political contributions.
Max J. Kuney and people associated with the company have made political contributions.
The Washington Public Disclosure Commission maintains searchable campaign-finance records dating back to 2007. (Wa State PDC)
Does that prove corruption?
NO.
Does donating to a political candidate automatically mean someone received a contract because of it?
NO.
But here’s the point:
When government is spending tens of millions of taxpayer dollars, citizens have every right to ask whether the people awarding, managing, inspecting and receiving those contracts have financial, political, professional or personal relationships with one another.
That’s not a conspiracy theory.
That’s called oversight.
And here’s what I want to know:
Who selected KBA?
Who negotiated KBA’s contract?
Who selected Max J. Kuney?
Who evaluated the bids?
Who approved the contract?
Who approves the change orders?
Who signs off on the work?
How much has actually been paid?
How much is still authorized?
And most importantly:
Are there any financial or political relationships between the companies receiving the money and the people making the decisions?
Because taxpayers shouldn’t have to accept:
“Trust us.”
We should be able to follow the money.
If everything is clean, transparent and above board, fantastic.
Open the books.
Show us the contracts.
Show us the campaign contributions.
Show us the change orders.
Show us who approved them.
Show us who gets paid.
Then everyone can decide for themselves.
Because when a $60 million public project is tearing up roads that appear perfectly functional while other nearby pavement looks terrible, taxpayers are entitled to ask:
ALL JUST COINCIDENCE — OR SOMETHING ELSE?
Transparency shouldn’t be controversial.